Old Domains

[onlinemediadirect]

I recently had a discussion with a fellow SEO on the importance of older domains. The guy said he uses a lot of auctions to dig out old domains and use them to setup sites. I considered this as a potential way of generating incoming links.

He did mention he had been punished with the google Panda update.

What are peoples opinions on this as a way of generating incoming links. A domain may cost around $10 plus the hosting could be found quite cheap -  it seems a good idea ?

Plus if you get lucky and perhaps get a domain with existing authority it could really be a good investment.

In research I do come across these sites quite a lot a basic wordpress install with pages added linking into other sites. They type that have no contact details and you have to find the whois info to gain any contact with the webmaster.

[DanSpeicher]

This.

And consider the relevancy of the link profile.

[adriandg]

It seems like you have answered your own question during your question.  the google Panda update definitely works towards thwarting this type of behaviour.  I would say it isn't worth your time or money. don't bother.

With one exception, if there is a domain that you truly wish to own and it happens to already be established with some backlink profile existing then sure, go ahead and buy it.  But I wouldn't recommend buying it just for the sake of using it as a link farm.